Today is the anniversary of the death of Theresa Marie Schiavo. Terri Schiavo masses away on March 31, 2005 in a Florida hospice after her 14 day battle against starvation and dehydration after being taken off her feeding tube. God continue to rest her soul and have mercy on all of us.

For those who were not with Scared Monkeys from the outset, the Terri Schiavo life and death tug-o-war was the story that put Scared Monkeys on the blogging map. I know many think it was the disappearance of Natalee Holloway; however, that was not the case. Before Scared Monkeys wanted “Justice for Natalee”, we fought to help keep Terri alive and covered the events that sadly eventually led to Terri Schiavo’s passing. We believed as did President George W. Bush commented in his statement that, “where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life”.

The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues. Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern. It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected – and that culture of life must extend to individuals with disabilities.

Sadly we posted, ‘STRIKE 3, 11th Circuit Court Rejects Schiavo Appeal’ … “It looks like the last flicker of a hope has gone” that was picked up by CNN and broadcast on the TV program, Inside the Blogs. As stated at Blogs for Terri on the 6 year anniversary of Terri’s passing … despite the intervention from Florida Legislature, Gov. Jeb Bush, Congress and President George W. Bush, the courts picked death over life.

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge George Greer’s latest death order concluded an 11-year tug of war over Schiavo’s life waged by divided family members, and came despite the unprecedented intervention of first the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush, and then Congress and President George W. Bush.

Hardly a day goes by that I do not think about a US Court decision that chose the death of a US citizen over life. It is a haunting and uneasy feeling that such a decision was made without any consent or feedback from the victim of the decision. Long before there was Obamacare, there was this precursor of making decisions on death. All I can say is Terri, God Bless your soul!!! Rest in Eternal Peace.

Robert Schindler, the father of Terri Schiavo, passed away over the weekend at the age of 72. According to reports Schindler died of apparent heart failure. However, in the aftermath of the death of his daughter Terri Schiavo and the much publicized 13 day starvation and dehydration death, one might say that Robert Schindler died of a broken heart.

Now, look at this exhausted, heartbroken father and tell me he is having a “good time.”

Rest in Peace.

In the aftermath of Terri’s euthanasia death, Robert Schindler started a foundation with the rest of his family to help other disabled patients. The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation would connect patients or their families to legal help, physicians and pro-life groups who would speak out on their behalf to obtain basic medical care or lifesaving medical treatment denied to them by the government, hospitals or family members

For those of you who have forgot or are unfamiliar with this case, Terri Schindler Schiavo died on March 31, 2005 after courts ruled that her feeding tube could be removed. After a 14 day battle against starvation and dehydration, Terri Schindler Schiavo died. It was the story that captured the attention of America and brought to light the rights of patients, family, living wills and what humanity should take place for those that would want one to die vs. those that would wish to take care of her.

The story of Terri Schindler Schiavo has a special place in our hearts here at Scared Monkeys as it was the first true impactful, emotional and far reaching news story that we covered. Let alone the emotional, heart breaking nature of the story. Before Natalee Holloway there was Terri Schiavo and her parents only wish to have her live.

We sadly wrote a story on the day that the 11th Circuit Court rejected her parent’s last appeal to get the brain-damaged woman’s feeding tube reconnected … “STRIKE 3, 11th Circuit Court Rejects Schiavo Appeal”. CNN’s Inside the Blogs picked up the story.

Robert Schindler will now be able to be with his daughter once again. May they both Rest in Peace.

A Polish railway worker who was hit by a train 19 years ago has emerged from his coma. The man, Jan Grzebski, went into a coma when Poland was still being run by the Communists under the power of the Soviet Union.

Now he has emerged into a world of capitalism, a member of NATO, and freedoms he has never dreamed about. It is a great example of the Rip Van Winkle syndrome, and why we should never give up hope for those who go into a coma.

Railwayman Jan Grzebski fell into a coma after he was hit by a train in 1988, the private channel Polsat said. In an interview, Grzebski said that he owed his survival to his wife, Gertruda.“She’s the one who always took care of me. She saved my life,” he said.

Grzebski was a father of four at the time of the accident. He is now making the acquaintance of 11 grandchildren. Doctors had not expected Grzebski to survive, let alone emerge from the coma. “I cried a lot, and I prayed a lot. Those who came to see us kept asking: ‘When is he going to die?’ But he’s not dead,” said Getruda. The Raw Story

I am actually almost unable to express my views on this matter because I am personally astounded that with all the media attention, all the questionable issues with this case, all that was right and wrong that Terri was abandoned by those in this country that are supposed to be there to protect her. Lorie at PoliPundit expresses exactly the same thought,

I find it almost impossible to believe that with the support of both Republicans and Democrats, with worldwide media attention and with access to both state and federal court systems, Terri’s family was not able to save their daughter.

I too, must sit back and reflect on my feelings regarding this matter. God bless you Terri, and may peace be with you, your family and friends and all the people who have supported you and been your voice along the way.

UPDATE: My buddy James Hudnall has a great perspective on the matter and since I border on sorrow and anger right now I may have to defer to his well written and thought out point.

With time running out for Terri Schiavo, a federal appeals court Wednesday rejected her parents’ latest attempt to get the brain-damaged woman’s feeding tube reconnected.

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to consider an emergency bid by Bob and Mary Schindler for a new hearing in their case, raising a flicker of hope for the parents after a series of setbacks in the case. But the court rejected the request 15 hours later.

AP reports: A federal appeals court early Wednesday agreed to consider a petition for a new hearing on whether to reconnect Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube. After so many Court denial Terri Schiavo’s family finally received a Court victory; however, it could be too late.

The ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals came as the severely brain-damaged woman entered her 13th day without nourishment.

In seeking a new hearing late Tuesday, attorneys for Schiavo’s parents argued that the District Court “committed plain error when it reviewed only the state court case and outcome history.”

Now, the court will consider the request for a new hearing based on the facts of the case, rather than whether previous Florida court rulings have met legal standards under state law.

There was no time frame for the court to consider the motion, but the Schindler’s attorneys asked to have the tube reinserted immediately “in light of the magnitude of what is at stake and the urgency of the action required.”

Hmm … “Now, the court will consider the request for a new hearing based on the facts of the case”. What a novel concept, isn’t this what was supposed to occur when th US Congress got involved and sent the case back to the Federal Judge, James D. Whittemore to review the facts of the case and not just review by the law and rulings that had preceded him?

We have heard on the TV news outlets about the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. From all sides of the political spectrum people have taken a position and a stand. The issue of whether Terri’s family has the right to take care of her vs. Michael Schiavo’s spousal rights have been at the forefront of this battle. It has become a MSM 24-7 news story.

But, in an echo of the Terri Schiavo case that has riveted the nation, his mother says he does communicate.

“He’s responsive with his eyes,” Lorette Nichols told The Telegraph of Nashua. “When I come in the room he’ll blink twice to say hello, and when I say we’re leaving, he’ll give us two blinks to say goodnight.”

The parents wanted to move their son closer to them so that they could visit him more often in their later years. In a familiar but different twist in this case, the man’s wife or ex-wife is not his legal guardian.

But the couple, both 81, can’t act because they are not his legal guardians. His wife was, but she gave it up when she divorced him in 2003. The woman, who has remarried and lives in Massachusetts, declined to comment on her ex-husband’s situation.

Ultimately, the state Office of Public Guardian became his guardian, according to court documents.

In what appears to be a case of de ja vous, the parents are looking to gain more control of their sons health care and eventually make their daughter Lester’s guardian. This situation that we see ever day with regards to Terri Schiavo more often than you think. However, in this particular case the spouse stepped away, divorced the son and left the care in the hands of the parents. Interesting how things look when the spouse does the right thing. Michael Schiavo could take some notes and learn something.

However, we do see a similar action done by the ex-wife that parallels Michael Schiavo’s actions in considering other aspects rather than the welfare of the patient.

At about the same time, a hospital social worker informed them that the ex-wife had asked to have Nichols’ $1,900 monthly Social Security disability payments paid to the couple’s children. The family opposes the move, calling it “nothing less than the pilfering of Nichols’ current and future assets, thus placing his future housing, health, welfare, standard of care and quality of life at great risk.”

Clear and convincing evidence is the standard in these cases. Seems pretty clear to most of us who cares for the welfare of these patients.

The Terri Schiavo story has been front and center for the better part of a month. The 15 year legal battle has endured. We have watched Terri’s parents recently try in vane to keep her alive and have a feeding tube reattached. However, motion after appeal after motion after appeal has been denied by all Courts. Whether you agree with the Schindler’s Family or with Michael Schiavo’s position that are certain things that should be considered off base by all sides.

It would appear that Northeast Liberals do not seem to agree. The liberal Northeast prides itself on being so intellectually superior than the rest of the illiterate Red States. Here is a perfect example of the over the top, rotten vitriol that is considered a badge of honor in the Great White North. What is most interesting from this brilliant author is the need to add a disclaimer prior to his Op/Ed for legal protection one would presume. Chris Elliott is a regular Op/Ed columnist for New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Herald, which speaks volumes of the political and moral discourse of the area. It would appear that all The Northeast has the market on is insensitivity and hate.

As previously stated whether you agree or disagree with the Right to Life or Death of Terri Schiavo somethings are beyond comment and attempted humor. This is one of those things.

After having read court documents, AP articles and news stories from numerous media outlets I am saddened and stunned to point out the following excerpts from this. Of course in true liberal 101 format it must begin with a typical attack on President Bush and go from there.

“But it’s important to remind ourselves that anyone can accomplish anything in America. If an illiterate nincompoop can get elected president one and a half times, and the King of Pop can show up to court in his pajamas and blame it on a bruised lung, then a person in a persistent vegetative state could have a great career in show business.”

“I propose setting it up in classic late-night talk show format. If investors are worried about long pauses, how about a sidekick ventriloquist dummy playing the role of Ed McMahon? I think one would prop up nicely on an atrophied arm, and lines could be delivered from sidestage.”

“With that enigmatic smile making her the ultimate straight man, she’s a gag writer’s dream, “Terri said to me, I haven’t had a bite all week … so I shoved a tube in her side!” Follow the joke with a long shot at the dreamy smile as the audience chuckles politely. “Terri’s guest tonight is a plate of cucumber salad. I’ll tell you what folks, unless that salad can stay fresh for 15 years, it’s in for a tough debate!”

“What’s that you say? Hey, that’s not nice, saying that if Ronald Reagan were still alive, he’d have Terri classified as a condiment.” Again a long shot at the dreamy smile.”

“Did you see that Terri?” the dummy says. “The cucumber salad moved. You missed it. There, it just moved again.”

“Now let’s hear from our orchestra,” the ventriloquist dummy says, “a boom box behind a cardboard cutout of Buddy Rich!” The “band” plays an up-tempo version of “I Like the Way you Move” by Outkast. ”

“Cut to commercial and listen to the cash register ring. You could have the new and improved Ronco Feeding Tube System as one of your sponsors.”

“Act now and you’ll also receive a shiny metal balloon inscribed with the inspirational message, “Get well soon.”

This is what the Left is proud of. This sad unfortunate situation which they consider a joke at the expense of a woman in a vegetative state. The Left has been trying to gain a victory over republicans since 2000 and it appears that they have found one they can be proud of to call their very own. If you feel so confident Mr Elliott about this Republican misstep maybe you would also like to explain why the entire Democratic Party in the US Senate dodged the issue?

Discretion is supposed to be used in delicate circumstances and any intelligent individual would think that this would be the opportunity. All but Chris Elliott, I guess.

Michelle Malkin provides more insensitive and tasteless material from the Left
Part I from Michelle can be found here.

The Rev. Thaddeus Malanowski said he gave Schiavo wine but could not give her a fleck of communion bread because her tongue was dry. He also administered the last rites, annointing her with holy oil and giving a blessing. Schiavo last received both sacraments on March 18, just before her feeding tube was removed.

This comes as a surprise as on Saturday” George Felos, an attorney for Schiavo’s husband, Michael, argued Saturday that her condition is not yet that grave.” It would seem that the Michael Schiavo camp would not be stating fact as Terri was unable to receive communion wafer as her tongue was too dry.

Just the day before Michael Schiavo denied this sacrament to Terri but has seemed to have changed his mind due to the pressure and the emotional nature that this case has taken.

“People are getting emotional,” said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Washington-based Christian Defense Coalition. “A woman is starving to death, but we want to focus on Terri, not on us.” Mahoney said he planned to ask congressional leaders Monday to act to keep Schiavo alive.

My personal fear is that this situation has not even come close yet to being emotional.